HISTORY
Jim Harris, Founder
Past Imperial Raban
Served: 1970-2002
Deceased
Excerpt Taken for the First Edition of the Hillbilly Press
Jim Harris, Imperial Raban - Author
Many years ago, shortly after I became a Shriner, I was exposed to the world of side-line degrees. Now to reach this point in life, a man must first become a Mason. That is a member of the Masonic Lodge. This is a very great organization, so like my father and brothers, I was very proud to become a member.
Now that I was a Mason; I was promptly informed that I must go on up." Some urged me to take the York Rites, and some said take the Scottish Rites; some even said to take both. This some of the best advice that I have ever had that I followed. Now I was able to petition and join the Shrine. Shrine Temples are in all areas of North America and apparently these fellows have fun.
So I became a Shriner. A Shriner is permitted to wear the red fez and join in the many social and charitable activities. He can join the Clown Unit, the Marching Patrol, Oriental Band, or other groups and participate in the colorful parades and be seen in many public places. The social activities are many and always proud to be helping support the Shriners Hospitals. What could be finer than to have fun and help the crippled and burned children at the same time?
What the Shriners needed was a new side-line degree, one that had a new and interesting ritual, and above all a purpose—namely that all profits would go for a worthy cause, to help the children who were admitted to the Shriners Hospitals. The members of this new side-line degree must have some fun and enjoy the activities so that he wanted his friends to also participate, and help spread the word of the new Degree. Rules must be drawn up to assure that all profits went to help those crippled and burned children of the Shriners Hospitals and for no other purpose.
After discussing side-line degrees with a friend one day back in 1969, I decided to see if I could put something down in writing to establish such a new degree. I could only draw upon my own experiences--born and raised in the Hills of West Virginia and now living in the hills of Kentucky. So I sat down and wrote. Slowly the new Degree took substance and form.
Then I wrote a Constitution to assure that no one made any money from this Hillbilly Degree--all profits must go to help those crippled and burned children of the Shriners Hospitals. Now we are ready to go, and a couple of friends agreed to help me try out the new Degree.
With the help of a couple of friends, it takes three to put on the Degree work, we initiated a few of the Shriners of El Hasa Temple in Ashland, Kentucky and everyone seemed to enjoy it. So we realized that the new Hillbilly Degree would be accepted at least as well as the many other side-line degrees.
The next step was to obtain a copyright, so that no group could come along later and put on this degree and not abide by the rules that the profits must go to help the crippled and burned children. This was what it was all about. Thus copyright No. 23370 was obtained in 1970 which can and will be renewed after it expires. Now all that these first Hillbillies received upon initiation was the membership cards. Now we found a source for Hillbilly Hats, and everyone started to wear their ‘Hillbilly Tuxedos," the overalls to all meetings. The more worn and patched, the better they were accepted. The Hillbilly Degree was on the way, but we still thought of this as only a local side-line degree for the El Hasa Temple area.
At the Imperial Shrine Convention in Miami, Florida in 1970 we decided to put the Hillbilly Degree work on. Over a hundred joined from other Temples, and the Shriners from Hejaz Temple in South Carolina wanted to be authorized to put on this Hillbilly Degree and put on the work in the name of their own Clan. This called for some quick action.
Since it was apparent that The Grand and Glorious Order of the Hillbilly Degree was a success, it was important to tie up all the loose ends. A Trust agreement was drawn up between the three officers accepting the responsibility of control of any money coming into their hands to be for the charitable benefit of the crippled and burned children. Agreement was certified and duly registered. An application was filed with the Internal Revenue Service for exemption from Federal income tax and was approved. Finally approval was granted by the Board of Trustees of the Shriners Hospitals for Crippled Children to raise money for the Shriners Hospitals.
Reprinted with Permission by Jim Harris, Past Imperial Raban, prior to his death.
History Source: http://www.trowel.com/hillbilly99/history.htm
